This story is the prequel to Mein Guilt, and is OC-centric. OCs are generally characters that never existed in the original canon source, and were created by the fans.
If you are, by any chance, someone that doesn't like OC-centric stories, I can understand if you wouldn't want to read this story.
PS: All characters in this story shall be speaking in plain English. It's basically German/ Dutch that's being translated for us to understand. When they do speak in English, they shall have an accent.
Heinrich, Goosewing (c) Cosgrove Hall Story, 99 % of characters in this fic (c) to me
Enjoy ^_^
Innocence Tarnished part 2
After the couple-hour trek to Hungary, Friedhelm and Klara had finally arrived at their destination. It was a small village, much smaller than the one in Austria, which in itself was quite tiny. As the duo strolled through the streets, they had noticed that the village seemed to be a ghost town. There wasn't a single soul out on the streets, and it was just dusk. Why wouldn't they be out still if it wasn't completely dark yet?
"I have a strange feeling about this." Friedhelm muttered under his breath.
"Where could everyone be?" Klara frowned as she noticed that there didn't seem to be any activity in any of the houses either.
"It's quite possible that everyone had evacuated the village to someplace safe!" someone had honked from behind the blonde and brunette.
It was two fowls. One was a white-feathered gander that wore a brown shirt, hat and boots that reminded Klara of what peasants had worn. He also carried a heavy backpack similar to that of Friedhelm's one. The gander seemed to be in his early forties. The other was a grey-feathered gander that wore a blue business suit with a black tie and a grey jersey, blue top hat and black shoes with spats over them. The gander also wore black sunglasses that covered his eyes completely. Klara noticed from the corner of her eye that Friedhelm gritted in anger for a moment, then his face became neutral.
"Why hello, Frieddy-boy. About time you had showed up. And who is your friend?" the grey-feathered fowl smiled as he shook hands with the annoyed blonde.
"Hello, Benedikt. Hello, Meinhard. I was late because I had delays. Oh, and this is Klara. She agreed to be my assistant for this mission. Dr. Von Goosewing had gone to Transylvana as he believed Count Duckula had arrived." Friedhelm explained in a tone that stated that the elder fowls better not get any ideas that the goose was his girlfriend. He knew how the elder geese enjoyed teasing him, since they dislike how serious he was the majority of the time; and enjoyed it when he shows other emotions besides being all stoic. Benedikt and Meinard introduced themselves to Klara as the vampire hunter and assistant they are.
"Erich went to face Count Duckula on his own? That's madness! The Count Duckulas are known to be amongst the most dangerous vampires of them all. Not to mention his servant Igor. That fowl could be evil incarnate." Meinhard honked in disapproval.
"But Erich can handle that Count Duckula on his one. I have faith in him." Klara smiled in pride.
"Look, Miss. I'm not saying that Dr. Von Goosewing is a bad vampire hunter. He's amongst the very best vampire hunters. Count Duckula is one vampire that even the most skilled and experienced hunter would find difficult to hunt down. Not to mention his servants Igor and Nanny are a big threat. There's also his relatives Don Diego, Vlad, Lucrezia, Mr. McDuckula--erm... and several more. I hope Lady Luck's on his side."
"So, where are the villagers?" Friedhelm piped up to change the topic.
"See church tower over there?", Meinhard asked as he pointed ahead of him, "that's where the villagers are staying."
"Why there?" Klara frowned in confusion.
"Whatever's attacking this village cannot touch holy ground. Ever since the residents found that out, they decided to move there until the threat dies down."
"So, what's the plan?"
"We'll go and speak to the villagers. Maybe they would know more of these attackers. We could also ask the Father if he minded if we slept over at the church."
"Sounds good. Let's go. If I remember correctly, the kind fowl that requested that someone should please stop the ferocious monster that attacked the village happens to be either one of the monks, or the Father. I'm pretty sure he won't mind."
*Much later, the church*
After Benedikt and Friedhelm spoken to the villagers for any clues of what had happaned; while their assistants Meinhard and Klara assisted them, the three ganders and goose had then spoken to the monks and the priest. They knew just as much as the villagers, but they did offer them to stay for the night. They had two guest rooms that were luckily not occupied by any of the villagers.
"Thank you for letting us stay at the church, Father Gutaff." Meinhard stated his gratitude as he, Benedikt, Friedhelm and Klara stood outside of the church with the monks and the high-priest. The vampire hunters and assistants were getting ready to trek back to the village to hunt down the monsters "The pleasure is all mine, sir. That's the least we could do to show our apprecation. You four were the only ones that were willing to help us." Father Gustaff smiled in gratitude. The elderly swan looked down at the monks. He noticed Brother Miguel, whose robes covered his entire body. No one had ever seen his features, but he did insist he's a fantail; and that he only hid his features because he had Beak and Feather. He also noticed the peacock Brother Jacques with his lady friend the gypsy hadede Katarina. The swan frowned when he noticed that someone was missing. Where was that boy? It wasn't like him to not be back after sunset...
"So, you are saying that the monsters come out at night-time only, right Father?" Friedhelm asked as he pulled a pair of leather gloves on, then placed silver knuckle dusters onto each digit. After he had so, he flexed his fingers.
"That's right, Mr. Friedhelm."
"But, have you any idead vhat type of monsters they are?"
"Unfortunately, no one had ever seen them face-to-face. They seem to hide in the shadows."
"Great, a bunch of cowards." Meinhard clicked his tongue in disgust as he checked that he had enough silver bullets. He then checked that Benedikt had enough holy water. Klara made sure her hammer and silver stake were in tip-top condition. When they were satisfied when the conditions of their weapons, they then started to march towards the direction of the village. Before they could continue, Brother Jacques had grabbed hold of Benedikt's arm. The gander seemed shaken when he was suddenly grabbed.
"Wait, I have another request. One of the monks had not returned yet. He's a young gander that's sixteen years old. He wore thick-rimmed glasses as well. He's specialized in white magic, so it's possible that they monsters may have attacked him because of it. Please rescue him, and take him back safe and sound."
"Will do, Brother Jacques." Benedikt nodded. The four then trekked back to the village for their mission. They were certain the mission would be a success. If only they knew...
*Much later, the heart of the village*
Despite the fact there was a full moon, the night was much darker than usual. It had to be because the street lights weren't burning. Friedhelm had lead the group, with Klara behind him. Behind Klara was Benedikt. Right behind the gander was Meinhard. Each fowl carried their weapons in their hands, and clutched onto them like their lives depended on them. It did.
"Please keep ready for any sudden movements, gentlemen and Miss Klara. We have no idea what we are up against." Friedhelm uttered under his breath. Soft whispers of agreement met the blonde's ears. For several minutes, all they could hear were the soft inhaling and exhaling of the members of the team. But, it didn't last long when Klara let out a soft gasp.
"Fried, your shadow's moving strangely." Klara whispered into her companion's ear.
"What?" the gander honked in confusion. He seemed quite shocked. Almost as if he never knew he had a shadow.
"Your shadow did move normally, but it then didn't react properly when you wiped your hair out of your face..."
"Everyone, shoot at my shadow! It must be the monster that no one had ever seen!" Friedhelm honked hysterically. As the gander had given its position away, the shadow transformed into its true form: something that looked as if it came from Hell itself.
"A demon?!" Klara gagged in shock. As she stared at the monster before her, several more monsters appeared around the four fowls. Some were demons, some were boogie men from legend. In fact, they were incarnations of folklores about various evil spirits and other monsters, yet they all had a solid form.
"Uh oh. We're surrounded!" Benedikt stuttered in fear.
"We can defeat them with ease. Everyone, fire away!" Friedhelm honked as ducked a punch from the demon. The fowls gained a great advantage, thanks to their weaponry. After several minutes, which had felt like hours, they had finally defeated all the monsters.
"Whee, we did it!" Klara smiled in triumpth as she tried to catch her breath. She wiped the sweat off her brow. Damn, that was a vicious workout, despite having good weaponry against the monsters. As she and the ganders caught their breaths, they heard someone clap from behind. They turned their heads around to notice a figure that was clad in grey robes. Only his orange beak and sandeled webbed feet were visible. Judging by the shape of the beak, it was a fellow gander.
"Bravo, bravo. You four had defeated my monsters. I'm kind of imporessed. But, I'm also disappointed. Was that your best. Let me give you a real challenge." the figure snarled in a deep, low voice. His eyes shone blood red as he lifted his hands high above his head as he chanted.
"Show them that darkness ain't nothing to scoff at. Give the vampire hunters a real challenge." the sorcerer chanted as his hands glowed black.
A giant portal opened up from behind the gander. It was a horrible creature which had the height of twenty-feet. It looked like it was crossed between a vampire duck, a demon and a werewolf. It snarled as it looked at what it believed to be its soon-to-be prey.
"Ubervampire, please destroy them." the sorcerer's tone was cheerful and playful.
"Come, everyone. We shall do our best, and defeat this ugly beast!" Meinhard laughed as he loaded his gun. He aimed for the heart of the beast, then he shot. His beak hung open in shock when he noticed that it didn't work.
"My turn. Maybe it's just immune to bullets." Benedikt stated as he threw the bottle of holy water over the monster. Nothing happened. In fact, the beast looked at the gander as if he was an idiot for doing such a thing.
"My turn. Maybe it's not immune to stakes." Klara honked as she leapt into the air, landed in the beast's head and then tried to jab the stake into the vampire's heart. The beast simply grabbed the goose by her arm and flicked her off. She landed hard onto the floor. Meinhard and Benedikt rushed to her aid. The goose was fine, just a bit dazed.
"Maybe it's the sorcerer that made the Ubervampire immune." Friedhelm smirked as he cracked his knuckles. To everyone's surprise, he leapt over the Ubervampire, and then did a Hand-spring. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the sorcerer. He grabbed hold of the gander, and was about to attack him, when the hood fell off. Friedhelm's lower beak almost fell to the floor. The gander looked as if he couldn't be older than sixteen. He also wore thick-rimmed glasses. But, didn't Brother Jacques say that the gander was specialized in white magic. So, why was he playing with dark magic? That's when he had noticed the eyes. They looked possessed. The only to cure the young gander would be to pour holy water over. But, Benedikt had used it all up when he had fought the beast. Then that mean that he had to kill the boy. But, no...he can't. He can't kill a poor innocent child, like that poor girl...
"Benny!!" Meinhard's hysteric honks could be heard as the Ubervampire grabbed hold of Benedikt and threw him through a cottage. Klara covered her beak as she tried to muffle her screams. Meinhard was in hysterics as he rushed towards the gander.
"Benny?" Meinhard honked under his breath. He pressed his fingers against the vampire hunter's neck. There was a pulse, but it was too weak.
"Mein-hard?" Benedikt whispered under his breath.
"Yes Benny, it's me. You'll be okay!" Meinhard honked as he grabbed hold of the injured gander's hand and squeezed it in reassurance.
The two ganders didn't even notice the ubervampire that had somehow crept up from behind them. In its hands was a thick lamppost it had pulled out from close-by. "No!" Friedhelm hissed as he noticed the beast's intentions. He leapt into the air, and gave the beast a suckerpunch. The ubervampire flew a couple of metres through the air, and landed hard against one of the cottages. It stared at the blonde in a daze.
"How dare you attack someone that couldn't defend themselves? As much as those two annoy, they're still my friends." Friedhelm snarled. Klara and Meinhard gasped in fear when they noticed that their blonde friend's appearance had changed. His eyes became blood-red and fangs were also sprouted. Wait, was he a vampire all this time? That had to explain the gander's ability to punch the Ubervampire like that.
"Enough! Ubervampire, come with me. I doubt fighting hyprocrites would benefit us." the sorcerer honked loud enough for the vampire hunters and their assistants to hear.
"Yes, Master." the Ubervampire bowed as it walked up to the young gander. The beast then teleported itself and its master to their hideout.
Klara and Meinhard each gave Friedhelm a blood-curdling glare as they helped Benedikt to his feet.
"Come Benny, we'll take you back to the church. I'm pretty sure there's a good doctor there." Meinhard whispered as he and Klara were used as crutches for Benedikt, as both legs seemed to have been broken.
"I can help you two, if you like." Friedhelm offered from behind. The assistants turned to face the gander. They gave him a venomous look.
"What, and trust our friend with a hypocritical vampire like you? No thanks." Meinhard snapped in anger.
"But--"
"Forget it. Ha, and to think I actually respected you. Never thought one of the greatest vampire hunters in the world happens to be a vampire himself." Klara laughed in sarcasm as she and Meinhard hurried up their pace.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Friedhelm honked in sadness as he covered his face in shame.
"I never told anyone because I'm afraid this would happen."
As the vampire hunters and assistants travel back to the church, I fear I must bid ye farewell for now!
To be continued...